Colleen Fee, Brit-Marie Sivertsen and Evan Tyrone Martin in Porchlight’s “Side Show” A lucky handful of commercially-produced shows become flat-out hits that run for decades. Yet more than often, most shows buckle under the pressures of modern commercial theatre and are sadly forgotten. And then there are shows like Side Show — a show that… Read More ‘Side Show’ at Porchlight Music Theatre
They say tragedy is easy, yet comedy is hard. And in watching Porchlight’s delightful production of the hit 1962 musical comedy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I took note of how deftly this hard-working cast navigates Burt Shevelove’s farcical book and Stephen Sondheim’s daffy yet deceptively dense music and lyrics.… Read More A funny and fine “Forum” at Porchlight
Rebecca Finnegan and David Girolmo in Porchlight’s “Sweeney Todd” Sweeney and I go way back. It was the first musical where I found myself blown away by not just the music, but also the plot. I still recall my 15 year-old self sitting in my grandparents living room giving the original Broadway cast album a… Read More A Satiating ‘Sweeney’ at Porchlight
Tyler Ravelson, Matthias Austin and John Keating in Porchlight’s ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ When the hit musical comedy How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying premiered in 1961, it was geared toward those weary businessmen who attended the theatre after a long, hard day at the office. A rollicking good… Read More A Rollicking ‘How to Succeed’ at Porchlight
The joint is certainly jumpin’ at Stage 773. Porchlight’s rollicking production of the “Fats” Waller revue, Ain’t Misbehavin’, playing through March 9, is the kind of show that offers enough heat and harmony to melt through the layers of ice that have crystallized Chicago. This isn’t the shiny, slick production of this oft-produced musical revue… Read More Porchlight’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin” Delivers Smoldering Sass
Alexander and Adrian Aguilar harmonize in Porchlight’s “Double Trouble” Donald and Gene. Bing and Danny. Adrian and Alexander. What do these three pairs have in common? Why, they’re vintage sweater vest-sportin’, Brilliantine in the hair-wearnin’, singin’ and dancin’ duos who charm with their smooth moves and crooning tunes. They all have a song at the… Read More Porchlight’s ‘Double Trouble’ Creaks with Old-School Charm
Susie McMonagle in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Pal Joey” “They just don’t write ’em like that anymore!” That classic turn of phrase kept running through my head watching Porchlight Music Theatre’s seductively charming production of Pal Joey — a classic yet rarely produced 1940 musical comedy. Set in late 1930s Chicago, the musical, written by John… Read More HuffPo Review: Porchlight’s Seductively Charming ‘Pal Joey’
In Porchlight’s seductive and sobering production of Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, the moment Alexis J. Rogers makes her reluctant entrance, drink in hand, you know you’re in for a turbulent ride. Rogers, channeling the singular jazz singer Billie Holiday, known by her fans as “Lady Day,” simply captivates in the… Read More Huffpo review: Alexis Rogers captivates as Billie Holiday in Porchlight’s ‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill’
Jason Richards and Kevin McKillip in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “The Gifts of the Magi” Shopping for the perfect holiday gift is a dying art. For many, myself included at times, it’s simply a matter of looking up someone’s online wishlist and clicking “one click purchase,” with $3.99 extra for wrapping. Done. But for Jim and… Read More Porchlight’s lilting, if lightweight, ‘The Gifts of the Magi’ reminds us to think before we give
Bill Larkin as Edward Kleban in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “A Class Act.” Photo: Jeremy Rill Something about A Class Act, a small musical with a big heart, captured my emotional core. The story of a talented guy who wants nothing else in life but to be publicly recognized for his true passion, but for various… Read More Porchlight’s ‘A Class Act’ Gives a Singular Sensation a Second Chance
What do you get when you take five singer/comedians, one pianist, a top hat filled with fictional song titles and shove them on a stage? You get BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy! Musicals often take years — even decades! — to develop. Just look how long it’s taking the folks in Smash to… Read More ‘Best Musical!’ turns weary Wednesday nights into lyrical lunacy
Jerry O’Boyle, Craig Spidle and Rebecca Finnegan in Porchlight’s “A Catered Affair.” Photo credit: Brandon Dahlquist In its essence, Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino’s A Catered Affair is a simple, slice-of-life family drama that happens to be accompanied by a delicate score. So it doesn’t surprise me that it didn’t find success when the show opened on Broadway… Read More Porchlight’s admirable ‘A Catered Affair’ is a study in subtlety
More than a decade ago, I saw my first Chicago storefront-produced musical. It was the swinging Burt Bacharach tuner Promises, Promises, produced by a little theatre group called Porchlight Music Theatre. Porchlight has been on my radar since then, and while their shows over the years have been usually well-produced, they’ve often seemed a little,… Read More Porchlight’s stellar ‘Putting it Together’
I’m starting a new job next week, and took a week off between jobly obligations to head to Northern Michigan for some much-needed R&R in Alpena, Michigan — my hometown. It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve been home during the summer, and I guess I took for granted the serene beauty this port-side town… Read More While I’ve been out: an update
You know The King and I, right? I mean, we all do. When I saw this title on Porchlight’s season announcement last year, I have to admit I rolled my eyes a little. Well, see Porchlight Music Theatre’s classy, intimate production, and you’ll be reminded why this show has endured. No, this isn’t some crazy… Read More Porchlight’s intimate and classy ‘The King and I’ breathes life into a well-worn classic
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